A solid episode with an intriguing plot. It's good to see things work out for the main characters at the end--especially since we never quite know where things are headed until the very last scene.
Tim O'Connor was a fine actor, and his scene with Diane Ladd (also excellent) when he decides to "man up" and go out and face the thugs was really well done. Young Kurt Russell was one heck of a talented child actor, and the dynamic between "father and son" was excellent.
Hate to be picky, but Festus' crucial gunshot from under the wagon near the end was aimed WAY too low to ever hit "Duster" up on the roof.
I was annoyed by the director's contrived, stage-y use of the crowd of derelict DENIZENS of the Shanty Town. Mostly old, decrepit weirdos who could barely manage to stand, they still strike terror into the hearts of the two thugs when Elena tells them the zombies will "tear them apart". The 2 guys could have easily shot their way through the crowd...unless these creeps really ARE the undead! But during the climatic scene when Tim O' came out to face the thugs, the DENIZENS were nowhere to be see. Then, sure enough, as soon as it was time to wind up the show--as if the assistant director said "GO!"... the denizens all started to shuffle onto the scene, like so many walking corpses. And the three extras who were chosen to walk by the camera for the very last shot were really BIZARRE!
Also-- the "local color" shot that opened Act 3-- the kid pushing the other one in the wheelbarrow, was downright stupid, proving that things are often better WITHOUT the director's clever, "inventive" touches.
But these are minor annoyances; the central story of a family "in-the-making" is really quite appealing. LR
RE: The giant chicken SQUAWK at 36:17. The writer could have easily had Tim O'Connor say "Packy, why not go out and finish them 'taters so I can have a word with your ma?" (or words to that effect), instead of the very contrived device of a massive, spud-eating chicken "B-GAWK" on the soundtrack, which convinces Packy to run outside. I mention this because that SAME CHICKEN sound effect is used in the background of EVERY episode that features a farm or ranch with chickens; I especially noticed in in Season 8. It cracks me up every time, but especially here. It sounds as if an outsize hen is about to invade the premises.
PS-- I assume that the plentiful cash that Tim O' keeps handing out is from the $10K that was planted on him (?) If so, it's stolen money, and not his to spend. ALSO-- what, exactly, does "Blue Heaven" refer to??